Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-18

w me Ut. tfay was WIN lne men ne was
joined by DR.. Meyer, who spoke words of
courage to each. When Sheriff Matson
came out hc stated that all the condemned
had written letters to the members of their
families and other friends which had been
intrusted t. him for personal delivery At
10 o'clock Deputy Sheriff Gleason hurricdly
entered the office with a letter, which he
passed to Spies. The superscription was in
n feminine hand. lie read it without n
movement of his facial muscles. All this
time none hut representatives of the press
had been admitted to the Jail Office. The
tickets of admission notified the holders
to present themselves at the Illinois
street entrance at 10 o'clock, but, in
order that the reporters-and there were
near a hundred of them-snould not be
crowded, it was decided to keep the holders
of the general tickets in the Jail yard until
the moment for the execution arrived. This
arrangement was an admirable one for the
newspapers, who at previous executions in
this building have been compelled to per-
form their duties under great difficulties.
1t was not relished however, by the other
visitors, who stood and shivered in the cold
air and stamped their feet to keep the blood
in circulation.
At 10 o'clock two telegraph dispatches
were taken to Parsons just rs the dis
patches had been taken in the sound of sing
ing in a cultural voice broke upon the ears
of those gathered in the office. In an instant
all was rs still as death. The voice was that
of Fischer, and he was standing at his cell
door singing the "Marseillaise" with
all the strength of his powerful
/ lungs There was smile upon
| his face, not one of cynicism, but hearty,
! open faced smile, as that OF Il man who was
entering heart and soul into the sentiment of
! the words he was singing. He sang two
stanzas of Eoucet de L'lsle's famous song of
! the French revolution, and then subsidized.
| None of his comrades joined in the chorus,
although The faces OF Parsons and Spies
frightened up and they Listened intently
until the notes had died away. Schwab,
who many time in days gone by had joined
in the chorus at the meetings of the Interna-
tional association, was considerably eXer-
ciscd by the episode and paced up and down
his cell with energy. Fischer was talking
with his death watch He said last night he
dreamed Of Germ cny and his happy child
hoods home.
Just thea loud noise was heard. 1t was
n deputy t, sting the scHifold with sand bags
Engel came to the door of his cell. He
knew what the sound meant, and winlled at
his ueillH WATCH rev. 1T. DOIIOn \lp.lr1
again visited one after another of the cells,
but from none of the condemned men did he
receive word of encouragement. Deputy
Sheriff Gleason called Capt. Bontield aside
and asked him anxiously about the crowds
on the outside and the probability of trouble
The captain replied that ali was quiet and
that the police were .ully able to cope with
any disturbance. He pointed to the roof at
the jail, which was literally studded with
officers armed with repeating rifles
"When l get to heaven I'll put in good
word for Bill Stobien zone of the guards,
said Fischer to his death watch. Stobie has
been very kind to the condemned men. AT
1925 Fischer talked gayly with his guard.
Spies had lit another cigar and also talked
to his keeper. He exhibited signs of nervous
ness He received letter. and Parsons a
telegram. Engel walked up and down his
cell He was offered some stimuant but re-
fused it.
At 1880 County Physician Meyer took his
leave of the men, to whose health he has been
daily ministering for the past seventeen
months. All of them shook hands, but not
one of them displayed the slightest emotion
From 10 80 to II Spies occupied himself il
reading paper. The others paced up and
down their cells, stopping at every turn tc
|, look out through the bars like Gagged ami
mails. The narrow corridor upon which the
cells of the quartette look was filled witt
deputies. The scaffod was not painted, and
, was brown with age and usage.
, There was a space of about two feet he
tween each of the ropes and the four moose
hung on a dead level. The rope was light
but of substantial make.
At 11;lO the jury filed in and took thei
places in the double row of chairs which haC
been reserved in front of the press tables
The spectators, of whom there are less THAI
200, We're admitted to the rear. Altogethe
the corridor was not half filled.
The cells on the first floor as well as thos
on the two upper tiers were emptied of thei
occupants The gathering was quiet and de
corouS. Hats We're removed and cigar
thrown away There was none of the crowd
ing, pushing, smoking, swearing mob tina
disgraced the execution OF the Italians tw
years ago.
, The names of the jurors were called, an
T. each rose to respond. Then there was que
r deep, awful quiet 1t WAS ms though ever
/ man had ceased breathing; as if the cart
stood still; as if the blood was congealing i
| TIE veins of the anxious spectators. Tn
: stiffness was broken by a wail-a weird
q grewsome sound. 1t was only the pc
S Jail cat, but it paes the cheek c
, many man who at another tim
q would make the event a source of Lilarity
. The animal, which had been secured in n
. ad joining cage, is taken out, and again tn
T. stiffness of suspense. Through the hig
/ barred frames of glass directly back of tn
. scaffold a score of armed men were visibl,
t They were as motionless statues, thei
q guns at their shoulders, and the muzzlC
4 bearing directly on the gallows window.
t The moments passed on a report game
v currency that the sheriff was holding o
# until the last moment in expectation ths
: something would be heard from Springfield,
v Suddenly the face Of Deputy Gleason WI
k seen at the entrance of the corridor leadin
to the scaifod. His face was white; he W,
- trembling in every limb He raised his han,
y The moment had arrived. The shufflng
;, feet is heard in the corridor 1t was Il 40
:, the minute. Sheriff Hatson appeared, h
4 back to the gathering; he was facing Il
procession. Spies came into vie'